Gravener Antiques

Description

On four turned walnut legs with original castors bearing the "Howard and Sons" stamp and the Registered Design mark. The chair retains a great deal of its original upholstery and the frame and legs are in untouched condition. 940mm high, 870mm wide, 970mm deep and 390mm seat height. Circa 1870.

Howard and Sons of Berners Street in London were the foremost upholstery maker of the nineteenth century, regarded in the same way as Gillow were for cabinet furniture.

Howard and Sons were such an important company that they collaborated with Gillow on several important projects and may have even manufactured pieces of upholstered furniture for Gillow as well as other important makers such as Maple and Co.

Howard and Sons exhibited at all the large exhibitions of the nineteenth century including the Great Exhibition of 1851 and the subsequent shows at Crystal Palace, as well as exhibitions in America and France. Howard and Sons had the Royal Warrant and supplied several Royal residences with many items of antique furniture, most frequently of course with upholstery.

Although Howard and Sons supplied almost any item for the nineteenth century house and were renowned for their excellent build quality and superb finishing in all areas of chattels and interior decorating, it is their upholstered furniture for which the company is now so famous.
W J Gravener Antiques is a family owned business, started in 1963 by William who was joined by son, Mark in 1981 and continues today with the same ethos of dealing in fine quality English and Continental furniture, mirrors and decorative objects, from the 18th & 19th centuries. Now under the stewardship of Mark and his wife, Louise, we take pride in maintaining the high standards which William set more than 50 years ago.

W.J.Gravener Antiques are proud members of LAPADA, The London and Provincial Antique Dealers Association.

We offer an approachable and friendly service and we are always happy to hear from clients, both new and established.